|
|
![-]( "-")
|
The charge of thousands in red
It really was D-day last Sunday, Sept. 23rd - at Motegi, in Japan, where the MotoGP race was held, and in Borgo Panigale where the headquarters of Ducati are located.
At Motegi, Casey Stoner took the track for the race that could crown him as the world champion.
|
At the same time in Borgo Panigale, thousands of fans gather together at 6 in the morning at the gates of the company, open just for this occasion. Passionate Ducatisti come from near and far, braving the sunrise and the cold in the seats of their Ducatis. Employees are there, even though they are all a little tired from all of the effort put into organizing, in record time, this get-together that welcomed everyone as if this was their own home.
Croissants, hot drinks and a familiar atmosphere aren’t enough to ease the tension. Everyone is hoping that Casey can do it so that they can greet the day yelling, “World champions”. There are fans, heads of the company and a lot of guys from Ducati Corse.
|
|
Write a message to your champion
The exclusive Casey Stoner T-shirt
|
The race is unbearable, and at a certain point everyone thought he couldn’t do it. Then all of a sudden, some one shouts. Not everyone understands right away what’s happening, but in a small corner at the bottom of the screen there is a bike slowing down – Valentino Rossi. The smiles are coming back…maybe it actually can happen!
During the last lap, everyone is thrilled and bursting with excitement as Loris crosses the finish line first, and a little behind him is Casey. The banner is rolled out with “Ducati and Stoner: World Champions” with the notes of “We are the Champions” by Queen playing, and thousands of hats and shirts are thrown onto the banner as donations by fans. Everyone is hugging, uncorking the bottles of champagne that appear from the warehouse. There are thousands, but everyone has to have some to toast! Some unforgettable moments were the tears of Filippo Preziosi, cheers from the crowd and from the guys that work daily to develop the Desmosedici, music from the Ducati Band and fans mixing together with employees a step from where Ducati originated, next to those who think of and make Ducatis.
The journalist and sport commentator, Giovanni di Pillo, exits and does an impromptu interview. At the end, full of enthusiasm, he calls for “everyone to go to the piazza on their bikes!”. The police, in the seats of their blue and white Multistradas, motion that no, it wasn’t scheduled, but it can be done and they start the parade.
The procession is happy and startling at the same time – the rumble of the twin-cylinders wakes the city! Passer-bys wave and keep their kids close, some one waves a flag, some one else calls home, “You can’t imagine this, there are so many…”.
When the 300 Ducatis invade Piazza Maggiore, two police officers smile. “Today there will be a traffic block…” but they let everyone park in the middle. Everyone arrives on foot at the Neptune fountain where Valentino, an assembly line worker, and Lucio, the Ducati Community Director, are in the fountain putting a flag in the hands of the statue. Pictures, cheers and smiles.
In the meantime, a few people approach to take pictures of all of the parked bikes. The owners smile and let them do it. “You know, Ducatis are Ducatis, not only the Desmosedici…”.
DUCATI PRESS | DUCATI CORSE PRESS | WEB MEDIA KITS | OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS
|
- 
- 
